WBO orders Burns to fight Crawford

[boxrec]

http://static.boxrec.com/wiki/d/d6/TerrenceCrawford.jpgWBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns (36-2-1) has been ordered to make a mandatory defence of his title against unbeaten American Terrence Crawford (22-0).

The Coatbridge fighter was expecting his next outing to be a February rematch with Mexican Raymundo Beltran, who was considered unlucky not to get the decision back in September when the judges tallied a split draw. Burns suffered a broken jaw during the fight.

Burns’ Promoter Eddie Hearn told the Mail: “If it has to be Crawford then we will fight him. The split is 75-25 in favour of the champion and I am very confident that I could bring that fight to Scotland. We are not looking to going to America to fight Crawford and it would take an incredible offer for that to happen. But the fight everyone wants to see is Beltran and it is the right fight for boxing after what happened last time.

“I am not saying that fight is completely dead but we have done everything we can to try to make it happen, as Crawford would not hold the same attraction for Scottish fights fans. Despite the fact he is very good, he is not particularly well known over here.

“He is tough but also unproven to an extent. But whatever happens, Ricky will be fighting in February, either in a voluntary defence, a unification bout or against Crawford.”

Crawford’s last outing was a ten round shutout points win over unbeaten Russian Andrey Klimov (now 16-1) in October. Standout names on the Nebraskan’s record include ‘Khanqueror” Breidis Prescott.

Last month, his trainer Brian McIntyre told the Daily Record: “Crawford’s level is way, way past Burns.

“I watched the fight between Burns and Beltran and to keep it real, one of them was scared and the other one was glad.

“What I mean is Beltran didn’t try to go over there and take the title and Burns was happy Beltran didn’t press the action.

“I would have sent Crawford out there to go right-hand crazy because Burns doesn’t use his feet so he opens himself up for a blind man’s punch.

“Crawford doesn’t care who he fights and where he fights. He knows his stuff.”

 

 

More...